California

Climatetech finance

Lunar Energy lands $232M to boost smart home batteries

The Silicon Valley startup wants to enter new markets, like Texas, and enroll more customers in virtual power plants that make the grid more reliable and affordable.

By Jeff St. John . 4 February 2026
Clean energy manufacturing

California has abundant solar power. Here’s how factories can use it.

High electricity costs in California have slowed industrial decarbonization in the state. New industrial rates and other fixes could change that, experts say.

By Maria Gallucci . 4 February 2026
Solar

California bills would cut red tape for balcony solar and heat pumps

State Sen. Scott Wiener wants to tackle energy affordability by making it easier than ever for households to adopt increasingly popular clean-energy tech.

By Alison F. Takemura . 19 January 2026
Clean energy

Trump’s DOJ turns its attention to local gas bans

The federal government is suing two San Francisco Bay Area cities over their right to bar gas in new buildings. Critics say the case’s legal argument is flimsy.

By Alison F. Takemura . 13 January 2026
Solar

The biggest US solar-storage project yet takes shape in California

Westlands Water District approved 21 gigawatts of solar and batteries on water-parched fields in the Central Valley, giving farmers a way to profit from fallow land.

By Jeff St. John . 12 January 2026
Long-duration energy storage

A novel long-duration storage project is coming to the California desert

Hydrostor’s 4-gigawatt-hour project received state approval last month. Construction could start this year — so long as the startup can nail down more customers.

By Julian Spector . 8 January 2026
Electrification

California’s plan to boost plug-in heat pumps and induction stoves

Regulators greenlit a $115 million, first-of-its-kind effort to drive demand for tech that can make home electrification easier and cheaper.

By Alison F. Takemura . 17 December 2025
Offshore wind

Do offshore wind farms kill bats? Trump cut research into the question.

Scientists were making remarkable discoveries about bat activity in the ocean waters where California plans to build turbines. Now their $1.6M grant is gone.

By Clare Fieseler . 31 October 2025
Geothermal

California can’t get out of its own way on geothermal

In a head-scratching move, Newsom vetoed popular legislation that would have spurred geothermal projects in the heat-rich state, but developers aren’t giving up.

By Alexander C. Kaufman . 27 October 2025
Batteries

California has a new law to prevent big grid battery fires

The state enhanced battery safety rules in response to the Moss Landing fire. The industry is on board, hoping better standards will reassure the public.

By Julian Spector . 20 October 2025